Overwintering Perennial Lavender Indoors and Outdoors
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Lavender grows best outdoors, but you can also keep these aromatic gems alive inside through winter. Plus, lavender is not only pretty—its scent also brings a sense of calm to every room. Here are some lovely lavender varieties and advice on overwintering lavender.
Is Lavender a Perennial or Annual?
A fragrant and colorful plant native to Europe and Western Asia, lavender is a sun-loving flower best grown outdoors. Depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it can be grown as a perennial or annual flower. Generally speaking, if you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 or warmer, you can keep lavender as a perennial plant outdoors if you grow the right type for your climate.
Types of Lavender
English Lavender
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common and hardy species. We grow a variety called ‘Hidcote’ that has dark purple flowers. Despite its name, this plant is not native to England; it stems from Europe’s warm Mediterranean coast.
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English lavender is hardy in Zones 5 and warmer, usually overwintering in the ground outside just fine without any added protection. In an open winter with no snow cover, we may pile a thin layer (1 to 2 inches) of straw or shredded leaves over them for added cover.
Spanish Lavender
Spanish lavender (L. stoechas) and fringed or French lavender (L. dentata) are much more tender and hardy outdoors, only in Zone 8 and warmer. They have to be moved indoors to survive the winter in colder zones. The good news is that lavenders are relatively compact plants that grow well in containers, making it relatively easy to move them indoors and outdoors.
If you are re-potting them, don’t use a pot that is too large. Only give them an extra inch of soil around the root ball. Too much extra soil will stay soggy, which these plants won’t tolerate. The soil does not have to be rich, either. Two parts of potting soil with one part perlite or coarse sand will give them the necessary quick draining conditions. To mimic the alkaline soil of the Mediterranean, add one teaspoon of lime to the bag of potting mix before using it in the lavender pots.
How to Overwinter Lavender Indoors & Outdoors
As mentioned above, English lavender is winter-hardy to Zone 5 and may only need a bit of help in the form of a thin layer of straw. Otherwise, lavender shouldn’t need any extra care outdoors. Spanish and French lavenders, on the other hand, are only hardy to Zone 8 and will need to be brought indoors in colder areas.
During winter, the plants want to rest and will not produce much, if any, new growth. They are dormant from September until April. While your lavender is indoors for winter, follow these practices:
- Watering: They need less water in winter, too; wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before giving them a drink. Overwatering will rot the roots and means sure death.
- Lighting: Although they won’t be actively growing, these plants will still need a lot of light. If you lack a spot on a cool, bright windowsill, try using a grow light to supplement the natural light.
- Temperature: During winter, lavenders like it cool but not drafty; the temperature can drop to as low as 40°F (5°C) at night and shouldn’t be warmer than 65°F (18°C) during the day. This means that you ought to keep them away from heaters that will dry them out and drafty windows that could chill them too much.
- Fertilizing: The plants may look a bit sad, but do not fertilize them until new growth starts in the spring. Unused nutrients can build up in the soil and become toxic.
Even though your plant is resting, the foliage is still fragrant and will smell lovely when you brush against it. The relaxing, anti-depressant qualities of its aroma will be a welcome reminder of summer and help to get you through the long winter ahead.
Come spring, wait until your last spring frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain above 50°F (10°C) to plant lavender outdoors again. Also, don’t forget to harden them off before exposing them to full sun and cool spring temperatures!
Lavender is more than a pretty plant. See lavender’s uses for health and home.
Robin Sweetser
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You didn't tell us anything about how to overwinter lavender. Are we supposed to prune it before the fall? I left my English Lavendar alone, did not prune, and it looks dried out. Will new blooms sprout, or do I need to cut it back and if I should, when should I cut it back?
I hope to have a lavender plant this summer. And I'll bring it in for the winter. I also need to know when and how to prune or cut back the summer growth. Look forward to your response. Thank you
Thank you for this information about lavender. I live in zone 5 and found it best to keep it growing in a greenhouse all year.
Is there a time for pruning lavender andwhen would that be in zone 9. Im not surecwhich lavender i have
In your warmer zone, you can prune lavender immediately after the plant flowers in summer to early fall. However, do not prune lavender plants six weeks before your area’s first frost date as it’s susceptible to winter damage.
A note to those who live in northern climates: Do NOT prune lavender in the fall, as this may kill the plant. Prune in spring.
Thanks and how far back do I prune
Spanish lavender in a container has been hardy in zone 9b directly light and stretches of 100°F days in summer. How should I winter it in our very foggy winters with stretches of 40°F (rarely dipping near 32)? (Southern San Joaquin Valley of Calif)
Hi Phil, Spanish lavender is suited to overwinter in your hardiness zone and should do just fine outside in your area, even with temperatures in the 40s.
You can add a little mulch on top of the soil to give the roots extra protection against lower temps and when winter weather is expected to be more severe, move it to a sheltered area to protect against winds and temperature drop. If it gets to a point where you are concerned about your lavender plant surviving the outdoor elements, simply move it indoors and place it on a sunny windowsill.
Hope this helps!
In the article above it says Spanish and French lavender is hardy only at Zone 8 and warmer and then later it says it is hardy only up to zone 8. Can someone clarify this as it is contradictory? I am guessing that French isn't the one for me to use in my zone since of course that is my favorite over the other and would be just my luck. ;)
